When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32. 1.2

time to rest. She followed her memory to a carriage rental shop. The owner saw that she couldn’t produce the money and offered her the most inferior carriage.

Jiang Zhen didn’t care about the carriage. She pointed to the horse: “I only need this horse.”

The owner unhitched the carriage without a word and led the horse to Jiang Zhen. Jiang Zhen leaped onto the horse’s back, raised her whip, and fiercely struck the horse’s back. The horse bolted, nearly knocking down the owner standing beside it. He spat: “Ugly creature, how unlucky!”

The disadvantage of an inferior horse was that it quickly slowed down after running for a while. No matter how much Jiang Zhen whipped it, it wouldn’t run, strolling leisurely as if on an outing.

Jiang Zhen was frantic, but dismounting caused a sharp pain in her legs, blocking that avenue completely.

A fast horse would have taken only three days and two nights of continuous travel. Jiang Zhen took a full six days to reach the outskirts of the capital. Looking at the city gate close at hand, she breathed a sigh of relief.

But she didn’t want anyone to know her identity. She tore a strip of cloth from her clothing to cover her face and mixed into the crowd to enter the city.

Afterward, she did not return to her own residence but went to the General’s Residence to find Jiang Yan.

The guards outside the gate told her that Miss was not in the residence.

Jiang Zhen was puzzled. Is Yan’er at her own residence, then?

She turned to walk back, and just then, she ran into Dongxue. Dongxue had sharp eyes and recognized her immediately, so shocked that the box of pastries in her hand fell to the ground.

“First Miss, you—you’re not dead?!”

Jiang Zhen nodded and asked: “Where is Yan’er?”

Dongxue’s expression stiffened. She stammered: “First Miss, why don’t you come inside and sit for a while? I’ll make you something to eat…”

“Dongxue, tell me, where is Yan’er!”

Jiang Zhen interrupted Dongxue, her expression stern.

Dongxue felt her scalp prickle under the gaze and whispered: “My Miss… she’s at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”

Jiang Zhen swayed, unable to stand steady. If Dongxue hadn’t quickly pulled her arm, she would have fallen to the ground.

“After hearing of my death, did your Miss show even a shred of grief?”

Jiang Zhen gritted her teeth, her hands clenched tight. The cloth covering her face fell off, exposing the hideous wound on the left side of her cheek.

The food box Dongxue had just picked up dropped to the ground again. She opened her mouth in astonishment.

“First Miss, your face…”

Jiang Zhen’s eyes were heavy. She said: “Answer me.”

Dongxue was startled by her tone and quickly replied: “Second Miss was very sad when she heard of your death, crying every day, refusing to eat or drink. She lost a lot of weight.”

Jiang Zhen felt a little better inside. She turned and walked towards the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Dongxue, worried about her Miss, followed closely behind.

Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Jiang Yan was enjoying the company of two beautiful women, one on each side.

“Ning’er, look at your sister, how generous and proactive she is. Why are you like a block of wood?”

Su Ning humphed, turning her head away. Jiang Yan was about to coax her when the other beauty in red beside her pulled her to her side.

The beauty had a dazzling appearance, her peach blossom eyes slightly upturned, radiating a naturally flirtatious and charming air.

“Yan’er, tell me, who is prettier, me or my sister? You must answer honestly. You can’t lie to me.”

Jiang Yan, as a master of balancing, naturally didn’t show favoritism. She gave her usual answer: “Both of you are beautiful. One is plump, the other is slender, and each has her own charm.”

Su Yu humphed as well, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

Both beauties were annoyed. Jiang Yan rubbed her temples, ignoring them for a moment. She drank her wine, leaning back against the soft cushion, looking completely languid.

Su Yu’s anger came and went quickly. Seeing that Jiang Yan was ignoring her, she felt bored and silently poured her more wine.

Jiang Yan wrapped her arm around her waist, laughing lasciviously: “I knew Yu’er wouldn’t bear to be angry with me.”

Su Yu glared at her, her eyes filled with flirtation, as if deliberately trying to seduce her.

Jiang Yan was about to say more teasing words when the door to the private room was pushed open. She was instantly familiar with the silhouette of the person who entered.

Jiang Zhen looked at the scene in the room, her breath catching, her legs throbbing with searing pain.

She suppressed all her emotions, removed the cloth from her face, and revealed a smile: “Yan’er, I’m back.”

Jiang Yan held her wine cup, neither putting it down nor drinking it. Meanwhile, Su Yu, who didn’t recognize Jiang Zhen, frowned and said: “Yan’er, who is this person? She’s so ugly.”

Jiang Zhen’s face instantly changed. She gave Su Yu an icy look. Su Yu, being a fiery character, was not afraid of her. She retorted sharply: “Why are you glaring at me? Isn’t it the truth? How dare someone so ugly show up in front of Yan’er? Aren’t you afraid of dirtying our Yan’er’s eyes? If I were you, I certainly wouldn’t come out to scare people.”

Su Ning knew Jiang Zhen’s true identity. She was scared pale after her sister said those words, already mentally selecting her burial plot.

She tugged at her sister’s sleeve, signaling her to stop talking. However, Su Yu didn’t understand her meaning and instead asked Jiang Yan if she was right.

Jiang Yan put down her wine cup, touched Su Yu’s little face, and smiled: “Right. Whatever my little darling says is right.”

Su Yu looked at Jiang Zhen with a triumphant expression, as if declaring war on her.

Jiang Zhen completely ignored her, her eyes fixed directly on Jiang Yan. She said softly: “Dongxue told me that you kept watch for me for seven days, crying every day. You must be tired.”

Jiang Yan’s smile stiffened. She cursed Dongxue, that traitor, in her heart.

When did I cry every day? There was no one in the mourning hall when I was crying!

“General, you must be joking. You shouldn’t completely believe the words of a servant. It was only right for me as a younger sister to keep watch for you, but ‘crying every day’ is too much of an exaggeration. After hearing the news of your death, I didn’t shed a single tear.”

Jiang Zhen’s last hope was extinguished. She collapsed with a thud. Her knees struck the floor, making a clear, sharp sound.

Su Ning screamed and jumped up, rushing to Jiang Zhen’s side to ask if she was alright.

Jiang Yan also stood up, but she didn’t rush over. Instead, she smoothed her clothes and slowly walked in front of Jiang Zhen.

“General, you seem to be badly hurt. Why didn’t you go back to your residence for a doctor? Instead, you came here. Didn’t you always despise places like this?”

Jiang Zhen saw the aloofness in her eyes. Her heart felt like it was being gnawed by a thousand ants, the pain making it hard to breathe.

She clutched Jiang Yan’s sleeve and pleaded: “Yan’er, please don’t be angry with me anymore. I know I was wrong.”

Jiang Yan looked down at her hand and raised an eyebrow: “Then you’ll have to compete with my confidantes here. They can sing and dance. What can you do?”

Jiang Zhen’s eyes brimmed with pain, and her throat moved: “I can learn whatever you like, as long as you don’t reject me.”

She returned just to be with Yan’er. If she refused to accept her, then she would truly have no home to return to.

Jiang Yan’s playfully cynical smile froze again. She hadn’t expected Jiang Zhen to answer like that.

She had intentionally said that to make her feel insulted and leave in anger. She hadn’t expected her to not only not get angry but also agree to her demand so humbly.

Maybe she truly regrets her actions?

Jiang Yan was conflicted, but Jiang Zhen could no longer endure the pain. Fine beads of sweat broke out on her face, and her vision was starting to blur. Despite this, she still held onto Jiang Yan’s sleeve, murmuring: “Don’t reject me.”

“Oh no, she passed out!” Su Ning exclaimed, unsure what to do.

This was the Great General of the State of Yu. If something happened to her in her private room, she would be held responsible no matter what.

Jiang Yan sighed. She put her hands under Jiang Zhen’s neck and under her knees, using some force. She was surprised to find Jiang Zhen was unexpectedly light.

“I’ll take her back first. I’ll come back and see you another day.”

She winked at the Su sisters, picked up Jiang Zhen, and headed downstairs.

There were many people downstairs. To avoid being recognized, she adjusted Jiang Zhen’s posture so that her face was buried in her chest before walking out.

Dongxue had already gone ahead to call a doctor. By the time Jiang Yan carried Jiang Zhen back to the Great General’s Residence, the doctor was already waiting. After an examination, the doctor truthfully informed Jiang Yan of Jiang Zhen’s injuries.

“The Great General’s legs are too severely injured. She will not be able to walk again. If she is well cared for and receives daily medicinal baths, there might be a miracle.”

Jiang Yan’s expression changed slightly. She looked at the pained face of the person on the bed, her hand clenching into a fist.

She is such a proud person. If she knew she had become a cripple who couldn’t walk, how would she react?

Worried about this, Jiang Yan stayed with Jiang Zhen for two days, intending to leave once she woke up.

On the afternoon of the third day, Jiang Zhen woke up and saw a fluffy head resting in front of her eyes.

She reached out and gently stroked it, a smile slowly creeping onto her face.

She hoped this quiet, happy moment would never end.

Jiang Yan felt the touch on her head and looked up.

Jiang Zhen’s hand froze, then slowly retreated.

“Yan’er, thank you for bringing me back. Will you stay and keep me company?”

Jiang Yan didn’t answer directly. She only told her the situation with her legs.

“I know. A doctor told me before that if I didn’t take care of them, I might never be able to stand up again.”

Jiang Yan wanted to ask, Then why didn’t you take care of them?

But she swallowed the words, tucking the blanket around her: “Get some good rest.”

Jiang Zhen quickly clutched her sleeve: “Are you leaving?”

Jiang Yan sighed, pointing to the teapot on the table: “I’m going to pour you a cup of water to drink.”

“I’m not thirsty. I don’t need water. Just stay here and keep me company.”

Jiang Zhen had no sense of security and constantly felt that Jiang Yan might leave her at any moment.

Jiang Yan felt helpless again. Her throat is so hoarse, and she says she doesn’t need water?

“Let go. I’m just pouring a cup of water. I absolutely won’t sneak away. I’ll stay with you after you drink the water. If you don’t drink it, I won’t stay.”

Only then did Jiang Zhen release her, watching anxiously as she walked towards the table.

Jiang Zhen was confined to bed for a full half month. With daily doses of bitter medicine and large quantities of tonics, her complexion quickly became rosy. The wound on her face scabbed over and gradually lessened. After the scab fell off, it left a pale pink mark.

Jiang Yan was forced to stay with Jiang Zhen in the General’s Residence. Besides forcing her to drink medicine every day, she also had to deal with the stream of visitors, practically becoming the mistress of the house.

The Yu Emperor was aware of Jiang Zhen’s condition and bestowed many tonics, gold, silver, and jewels upon her, and did not revoke her title of Great General.

When Jiang Zhen was finally able to get out of bed, Jiang Yan settled her into the wheelchair the Yu Emperor had gifted her. She thought she could finally go listen to music and drink wine, but Jiang Zhen followed her wherever she went.

“General, why don’t you let Xiahe push you around to get some fresh air? I have things to do, so I won’t keep you company.”

“Yan’er, take me with you. I promise not to bother you.”

Jiang Yan: Suffocating.jpg

I’m going to a courtesan house. Why would I take you? To make myself uncomfortable?

“General, His Majesty sent many people to keep you company and relieve your boredom. I won’t stand in the way here. My studies are demanding. Farewell!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Yan shot out like a sharp arrow.

Hmph. In my BGM (background music), no one can defeat me.

Jiang Zhen sighed, the light in her eyes dimming. She said to Xiahe: “Let’s also go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and listen to some music.”

Let’s see what is so captivating that Yan’er is so obsessed with it.

Jiang Yan didn’t actually go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion right away. She found a quiet place to communicate with the System.

“The Blackening Value was cleared a long time ago. Why hasn’t the mission ended? That’s illogical.”

[There’s nothing illogical about it. The mission target wants to spend the rest of her life with you, and that desire is extremely strong.]

Jiang Yan: ???

That’s absolutely outrageous!

A little later, Jiang Yan still ended up at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

She inwardly sighed that her social circle was too small; she had nowhere else to go besides the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Upon entering, she noticed the atmosphere was different than usual. No one was watching the singing and dancing; everyone was gathered, chatting about gossip.

“Those two young ladies are truly brave. I, a man, wouldn’t dare to do that.”

“Hush! It’s nothing to boast about. Lord Zhang has been wearing a green hat for so long. If he heard you say that, you might be found dumped somewhere tomorrow.”

“I admire those two girls, though. They abandoned everything for love. That’s not something an ordinary person can do.”

Jiang Yan walked from the main hall to the second floor, having overheard enough. She hadn’t expected the Zhang Zhiyao sisters to be so brave.

Zhang Zhihui was not Lord Zhang’s biological daughter. She was pregnant with another man’s child before her mother entered the residence, so they were not blood-related. When Lord Zhang opposed their relationship, the two eloped.

Jiang Yan could only pray for them, hoping they wouldn’t be caught and would live happily and peacefully for the rest of their lives.

Pushing open Su Ning’s private room door, she froze, thinking she was hallucinating. Why was Jiang Zhen here, and why was she listening to Su Yu speak without any sign of impatience or disdain?

Save me, I must be having an illusion!

Jiang Yan rubbed her eyes and looked in that direction again. The person hadn’t disappeared; she was even smiling at her.

“Yan’er, you’re here.”

Oh, my God, it’s real!

Jiang Yan didn’t know how she walked in. The next thing she knew, she was sitting next to Su Yu.

“Yan’er, your sister is so funny. She actually asked me to teach her how to dance. How can a cripple dance? It’s hilarious.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yan’s first reaction was to look at Jiang Zhen’s expression. She relaxed only after seeing that she wasn’t angry.

Although she wasn’t heartbroken for her, any ordinary person would be upset if an old wound were exposed, let alone a general who fought on the battlefield.

“Miss Su Yu, just teach me. I have a photographic memory. When my legs are better, maybe I really can dance for Yan’er to see.”

Jiang Yan secretly sighed and said to her: “General, there’s no need for this.”

Seriously, there’s no need. What I said that day was just angry words. Jiang Zhen dancing? The image is too beautiful and hard to imagine.

Su Yu stood up, draped a silk scarf over her shoulder, and said: “Originally, I only dance for Yan’er, but since you’re Yan’er’s sister, I’ll perform a song for you, too. Watch closely. This is my original creation. When your legs are better, I’ll test you. If you can’t dance well, you’ll have failed me.”

Su Yu had not been corrupted by society, so she retained her innate pride. Even knowing Jiang Zhen was the Great General, she didn’t treat her with excessive respect, instead treating her like a friend and speaking informally.

Su Yu’s dance was indeed excellent. Jiang Yan became engrossed without realizing it, one hand resting on her chin, the other lightly tapping on her leg.

“Yan’er, if I performed this for you, would you be happy?”

Jiang Zhen held Jiang Yan’s hand resting on her leg. She looked intently at Jiang Yan, her eyes full of expectation.

Jiang Yan pulled her hand away and said carelessly: “General, give up on that idea. You’re good at wielding a sword and spear, but dancing and singing are truly not your forte. Look how flexible her little waist is. You’d probably break before you even bent over.”

Jiang Zhen withdrew her hand, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, but she quickly recovered and said to Jiang Yan: “It doesn’t matter. I can learn. I can learn anything you want.”

Just don’t push me away again.

Jiang Yan knew what she meant without her saying it and understood why she didn’t say it.

Actually, it’s better for both of us this way, because even if she said it, I wouldn’t respond.

Now that there was no mission constraint, she was following her own heart. There was no reason to forgive Jiang Zhen so easily.

Even though she’s crippled and disfigured and very pitiful, it’s not my fault, is it?

I am not a Saint. I won’t forgive all her past mistakes just because I pity her.

But Jiang Zhen seemed to have truly changed. Her temper had improved significantly. She could remain calm even when facing the Su sisters. Sometimes, she even asked them what Jiang Yan liked, what songs she loved to hear, what dances she liked to watch, what wine she liked to drink, and what dishes she enjoyed.

She asked about all these things in detail and memorized them.

Time flew by. In the twelfth lunar month, when the first snow fell, Jiang Zhen stood up from her wheelchair.